Senior councillors in Leeds are set to debate controversial plans to hold a public consultation into the modernisation of Leeds libraries - which could lead to 20 libraries facing closure.

As reported last month, the decision to hold a consultation into the modernisation of Leeds libraries was sent back for decision-makers to reconsider following concerns from a council scrutiny watchdog.

The scrutiny board requested access to the data used to compare libraries and more information on the proposed consultation process.

In October, Leeds council said it intended to embark on a review of the city's library services, and has suggested 20 of the city's poorly-used smaller libraries could close. It also suggests that the city's remaining libraries open longer to compensate for any loss in service and that the city's mobile library network be extended.

Members of the executive board are next Wednesday being asked to give the go-ahead for consultation with residents on possible changes which would see some libraries open for longer, improved mobile library services and whether some libraries should have cafes in them.

Bringing council and local services under same roof

The 'New Chapter' consultation will also ask for Leeds residents' views on bringing a range of council and local services together under the same roof in parts of the city, as has been successfully seen at the new Compton Centre in Harehills and the Reginald Centre in Chapeltown.

The report says that Leeds currently has 53 libraries, which in the financial year 2009/2010 received four million visits. Of those, 1.5 million visits were to four of those libraries and 2.8 million visits were made to 13 libraries.

Twenty of the libraries received a total of 132,000 visits in 12 months and the council says that due to their limited opening hours valuable book stock currently cannot be fully accessed.

In these areas, the consultation will ask local people about the continued viability of these libraries and their views on introducing a possible new service. This would be based on regular visits to communities by mobile libraries.

The proposals could save the council £700,000. The cost of refurbishingthe libraries is estimated at more than £3 million.

"This consultation is all about giving the people of Leeds the chance to tell us what kind of library service they want. I would like to make it clear that nothing has been decided – this is the start of the debate and the chance for everyone to let us have their views.

"The key factor behind this consultation is the need to modernise the service and offer residents improved access to a range of services which reflects the fact people are increasingly accessing library services without even physically needing to visit a library building.

"With that in mind in any discussion about New Chapter it is very important to keep the service and the role of our current buildings in providing that service separate. The key to the success of any change is that it is what people want, so should the consultation go ahead it is absolutely vital residents tell us what they think."

Should the executive board approve the consultation plan, it would begin immediately and last for 10 weeks.

Following a Freedom of Information request, the campaign group discovered that 22 of Leeds' 53 libraries recorded an increase in library visits on the previous year.

Background

In October, a report to the council's executive board suggested 20 of the city's poorly-used smaller libraries could close, that the city's remaining libraries open longer to compensate for any loss in service and that the city's mobile library network be extended.

The report - A New Chapter - detailed a 'new vision for the future of the library service in Leeds' and says the proposals will make books and services more accessible and provide a better service for Leeds people. There could be estimated savings worth £700,000 in a full year to the council.